How to start a business with ZERO investment

No money to start your own business? Fret not, for the best things in the world are free.

IMAGE: Use your network to find out how you can optimise free and readily available resources to your benefit. Photograph: Satish Bodas/Rediff.com

In this day and age, everyone wants to feel financially secure and self-sufficient.

From homemakers to students, everyone is juggling with ideas to build a business that gives them the freedom and flexibility to work and earn at their own pace.

Creating and sustaining a business is more than just becoming rich. It is a way to pursue your passion and fulfil your dreams, while contributing to the society.

These days, starting a business has become a cakewalk, provided you know how to hit all the right strings.

Your dedication and passion to move ahead should keep you afloat even if you don't have the funds at hand.

If you're prepared to work hard and learn from your failures, here are a few tips that will help you start your own business without any investment.

Start with social media

This seems like an obvious choice, but it can go a long way if you know how to strategise your content in the right manner.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram cater to a wide audience.

Understanding your target market and planning your posts accordingly can give your business a head start.

You may even start making money sooner than you had expected. All you need to do is display your products and services that you have to offer in a way that entices your target audience enough to raise some eyebrows and generate some interest.

Find free selling platforms

There are multiple platforms that allow you to list your products free of cost. This gives your brand better exposure and services without spending anything on marketing.

Websites like Amazon, Ebay, Etsy and many more are great platforms to sell products.

They only charge a minimum amount as commission on each sale. It is important, however, to make sure your inventory stays updated on all sites at all times.

Barter to get what you want

It is understandably hard to start a business with no funds. But you can always collaborate with agencies and companies that can help you market your products in exchange for your products and services.

For instance, if you want to reach out to celebrities to promote your brand of apparels, you can always send them your products as gifts with a note of gratitude.

Utilise low-cost services

Unfortunately, there are a few services that you'll need to pay for to ensure your business gets the necessary feed to nurture and grow.

However, you can always scout for business management applications and software that are available for a negligible monthly amount.

For example, if you want a design software to create brand presentation material, you can always look for web apps that offer a professional set up for a monthly fee of just about $5 to $10, or maybe you can hire an intern looking to build a portfolio.

In a nutshell, starting a business requires passion, dedication and ingenuity in what you are doing.

If you have found your passion, there's nothing that can stop you from achieving your goals.

If you put your mind to it, you'll start finding ways that bring everything together, even if you don't have sufficient resources to start with.